Overview of the LEADTOOLS Storage Server Features

Technical, Administrative and Security Features

Network Load Balancing and Failover Capability

The LEADTOOLS Storage Server can be configured in a Network Load Balancing Cluster to provide even distribution of traffic to more than one LEADTOOLS Storage Server. Such a configuration, achieves failover capability as well. Upon failure of the Server service or physical failure of a server, other servers in the cluster absorb the additional workload.

Runs as a service

The LEADTOOLS Storage Server runs as a service automatically in the background and requires no user interaction to start. If a server is restarted, it is unnecessary to login.

Logging of all DICOM, Server and Error messages

An extensive log can be kept of every event taking place on the LEADTOOLS Storage Server. Every DICOM transaction, with clients identified, can be recorded.

Database runs on SQL Server

Supports Secure Communication

The LEADTOOLS Storage Server can be configured to communicate with other devices over a secure port, with the option to verify server and client certificates.

DICOM Features

Full Compliance with DICOM 3.0 Standard

The LEADTOOLS Storage Server is fully compliant with the DICOM 3.0 medical standard, and a conformance statement is provided with the Server.

IP and Subnet Mask or Hostname Verification

Client AE (Application Entity) titles can be bound to an IP address and subnet mask or to a hostname. With verification, if another computer on your network tries to connect as the AE title of an authorized computer, it will not be permitted unless the exact IP address or hostname are verified on the server.

Access Lever Security per Client

The LEADTOOLS Storage Server controls which AE Titles can query, retrieve, and store to the server.

Capable of Anonymous Connections

Anonymous connections can query and store to the server without being specified in the clients table.

Receive Images

The LEADTOOLS Storage Server stores any received image, in its entirety, in its internal data store. Also, the LEADTOOLS Storage Server extracts the query information and stores the patient, study, series, and image data in its internal database.

Accepts Queries from Other Devices

The LEADTOOLS Storage Server responds to any query request, basing its decisions on the records stored in the database.

Accepts Retrieve Requests from Other Devices

The LEADTOOLS Storage Server responds to C-MOVE commands in order to process retrieve requests of images for the requester by obtaining a reference from the database. The object is then obtained directly from the data store.

Transmits Images

The LEADTOOLS Storage Server transmits images to other compatible devices as a Service Class User of C-Store service.

TCP/IP Network Communication Support

Multiple Simultaneous Connections

The LEADTOOLS Storage Server spawns a new process for each connection request it receives.

Asynchronous Nature

The LEADTOOLS Storage Server allows only a single outstanding operation on an association. Therefore, the LEADTOOLS Storage Server does not perform asynchronous operations, other than the default specified by the DICOM 3.0 standard.

Image Forwarding

Series can be forwarded manually or on a recurring schedule to other DICOM Servers. For example, a satellite clinic can forward exams to a central server at a different location on a daily or weekly basis for archiving.

Image Cleanup

Images can be cleaned up from a server manually or on a recurring schedule based upon the age of the exam, if they have been forwarded to a central DICOM server for archiving. For example, a satellite clinic can conserve storage space by deleting all images over 2 months old if they have already been forwarded to a central server for archiving.

AutoCopy

The auto copy feature allows the storage server to be configured to automatically route moved DICOM image data to any number of PACS servers. This feature can be set up so that when the server receives a C-MOVE request to a destination AE it will automatically store it to some other server as well. When the storage server to connects to the remote PACS servers, it can be configured to optionally use a custom AE title. For performance, the auto copy processing can be performed in a user-specified number of different threads

Gateway

The gateway feature allows DICOM servers to be created that act as a proxy to communicate with other DICOM servers on the client's behalf. This allows clients to send query/retrieve requests only to the gateway server. Those requests can then be automatically relayed to any number of other PACS servers. The Gateway can forward C-FIND and C-MOVE DICOM messages. Requests are forwarded to the specified remote DICOM servers and the responses forwarded back from the gateway to the requested clients. Images moved from remote servers are stored in the local main storage server database. Multiple remote servers can specified for each gateway. If one remote server fails to respond, then the next remote server in the list is used, continuing until a server responds before sending a failure message to the requested client.